Today's Investment Banking Pulse
Autodesk to acquire MaintainX for $3.6B, expanding into operations software
Autodesk announced an all‑cash $3.6 billion purchase of MaintainX, a mobile‑first maintenance and operations platform. The transaction is funded with cash on hand, new debt and includes a $150 million restricted‑stock grant to retain staff. CEO Andrew Anagnost said the deal unlocks a $40 billion addressable market and extends Autodesk’s portfolio beyond design into building operations.
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By the numbers: Credit Agricole raises $670M via Samurai bond issuance
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ON24, Inc. shareholders approved a merger with Summit Sub Corporation, a Cvent subsidiary, on March 26, 2026, and the deal closed on April 1. The transaction converts each ONTF share into a cash payment of $8.10, equivalent to $810 per standard option contract. OCC has adjusted all ONTF equity options to cash‑settlement, accelerated expirations to April 17, 2026, and set a $0.01 exercise‑by‑exception threshold. Existing American‑style options remain exercisable until the new expiration date.
Agile Robots Closes Acquisition of Thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering
Agile Robots completed the acquisition of thyssenkrupp Automation Engineering’s assets, rebranding the unit as Krause Automation. The deal gives the Munich‑based AI‑robotics firm a strong presence in Europe and North America and adds over 75 years of engineering heritage. By...
EnerVenue Closes US$300 Million Series B for 30,000-Cycle Nickel-Hydrogen Battery Manufacturing
EnerVenue closed a $300 million Series B extension led by Full Vision Capital, adding a new investor to the round. The funding will finance rapid expansion of its high‑volume nickel‑hydrogen battery plant in Changzhou, China, and accelerate supply‑chain development. The company also...
IEVA Group Lists on Euronext
IEVA Group, Europe’s leading personalised beauty and wellness provider, debuted on Euronext Growth Paris on March 31, 2026. The IPO sold 571,436 new shares at €12.79 each, raising €7.3 million (about $8 million) and valuing the company at €126 million (roughly $137 million). IEVA’s AI‑powered ecosystem...
Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern Merger: Reshaping the Rail Industry
Union Pacific has filed to acquire Norfolk Southern, creating the nation’s first true transcontinental railroad with over 50,000 miles of track across 43 states. The combined entity would control roughly 40% of U.S. rail freight, matching BNSF’s current market share....
Benchmark Starts Coverage on Digital Assets Firm Securitize
Benchmark has started analyst coverage of Miami‑based fintech Securitize, assigning a Buy rating and a $16 price target. The firm is set to list on Nasdaq via a merger with SPAC Cantor Equity Partners II. Securitize commands roughly 70% of the...
A Group of Independent Restaurants Wants the FTC to Block Sysco-Restaurant Depot Deal
The Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) has asked the FTC to block Sysco’s $29.1 billion cash‑and‑stock acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot. The coalition argues the deal would eliminate the only large cash‑and‑carry wholesale option that independent eateries rely on to avoid minimum...
Irish Drone Delivery Firm Manna Confirms $50m Raise, Plans 400 New Jobs
Irish drone logistics firm Manna announced a $50 million Series B round, lifting total capital raised to $110 million. The financing, led by ARK Invest, Schooner Capital and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, will fund the creation of 400 high‑skill jobs—300 in Ireland...
AI in Private Equity: Use Cases Across the Deal Lifecycle
AI is reshaping private equity across the entire investment lifecycle, from deal sourcing to exit planning. Firms that deploy AI for document processing report 50‑80% faster deal times and 35‑85% productivity gains in due diligence. A recent survey shows 82%...
Beijing’s GL Capital Holds $385m First Close for Latest Flagship
Beijing‑based GL Capital announced a $385 million first close for its flagship GL China Opportunities Fund V, representing roughly 48% of the $800 million target. The fund, launched in September 2025, will focus on buyout investments across China’s high‑growth sectors. GL Capital...
Inox Clean Energy Completes Acquisition of Vibrant Energy
Inox Clean Energy has completed the acquisition of Vibrant Energy for an enterprise value of roughly ₹5,000 crore (about $600 million), adding a 1,337 MW renewable portfolio spanning five Indian states. The deal closed in a record four months despite a volatile global...
OpenAI Closes $122B Funding Round
OpenAI announced a record $122 billion funding round, pushing its valuation to roughly $852 billion. The round was led by Amazon, Nvidia and SoftBank, which together contributed $110 billion, with Amazon alone committing $50 billion. OpenAI said the capital will fuel compute expansion, research...
Podcast: Adam Back and Sean Bill on Bitcoin Standard Treasury’s $4bn Deal with CEPO
Bitcoin Standard Treasury (BST) announced a $4 billion combination with Cantor Equity Partners I (NASDAQ: CEPO), a SPAC that closed last July. The deal merges BST’s extensive Bitcoin holdings and a novel Bitcoin PIPE with Cantor’s public‑market platform, creating one of the...
CoinShares Starts Trading on Nasdaq Stock Market
CoinShares PLC, the digital‑asset manager with over $6 billion in AUM, began trading on Nasdaq on April 1, 2026 under the ticker CSHR. The listing resulted from a business combination between CoinShares International, the SPAC Vine Hill Capital Investment Corp, and a newly...
Press Release: AccessPay Accelerates Growth with Majority Investment From Leading Software Investor, Accel-KKR
AccessPay, a UK‑based bank integration and payment automation SaaS, has secured a majority investment from private‑equity firm Accel‑KKR. The capital infusion will fund product development, scale operations and enable strategic acquisitions, positioning AccessPay to meet rising demand for AI‑ready finance...
OceanSound Collects $3.4 Billion for Government and Enterprise Technology Bets
OceanSound Partners announced the closing of its third flagship fund, raising approximately $3.4 billion, roughly twice the size of its prior vehicle. The New York‑based firm, led by founder and CEO Joe Benavides, will deploy the capital into technology companies serving...
Press Release: Standard Chartered Hires Ole Matthiessen to Lead New Global Transaction Services and Digital Assets Team for Corporate &...
Standard Chartered has hired Ole Matthiessen as Global Head of Transaction Services & Digital Assets, leading a newly unified team within its Corporate & Investment Banking division. The team combines transaction banking, financing and securities services with the bank’s rapidly...
Barrick Names Leadership Team for North America IPO
Barrick Mining has formed a seven‑person executive team to run its Nevada and Dominican Republic operations as it prepares a North American IPO later this year. Tim Cribb will serve as chief operating officer, Wessel Hamman as chief financial officer,...
Capital Markets Roundup: March 2026
Investment Week released its March 2026 capital markets roundup, the third installment of the series, authored by chief reporter Linus Uhlig. The piece reviews key developments across the Middle East, UK gilts and global interest‑rate trends during the month. Although...
Keurig Dr Pepper Completes Acquisition of JDE Peet’s and Appoints CEO
Keurig Dr Pepper has completed its acquisition of 96.22% of JDE Peet’s, moving to split the combined business into two publicly traded companies. The coffee arm, encompassing Keurig, Jacobs, Douwe Egberts, L’OR and Peet’s, will generate roughly €14 billion (about $15.3 billion) in annual...
Morningstar DBRS Finalises Provisional Credit Ratings on NewDay Partnership Master Issuer Plc, Series 2026-1 and Discontinued Credit Ratings on the...
Morningstar DBRS issued provisional ratings for NewDay Partnership Master Issuer plc’s Series 2026‑1 notes, assigning AAA to Class A, AA to Class B and BBB to Class C. The notes are secured by a pool of co‑branded UK credit‑card receivables, recently bolstered by high‑performing...
617 Collective Acquires Zanahoria Azul to Bolster Creator‑Economy Reach
617 Collective announced the purchase of Miami influencer talent agency Zanahoria Azul, adding a curated Hispanic creator roster to its portfolio. The deal, terms undisclosed, gives Zanahoria Azul access to 617’s capital and shared services while preserving its brand and...
InsideArbitrage Special Situations Newsletter: April 2026
InsideArbitrage’s April 2026 Special Situations newsletter updates its Deal‑in‑the‑Works (DITW) pipeline, now cataloguing 1,109 potential transactions dating back to 2017. The report highlights a renewed “relief rally” as the CNN Fear & Greed Index plunged into single‑digit territory on March 30,...
McCormick to Acquire Unilever’s Select Foods for $44.8 Bn in Cash‑Equity Deal
McCormick & Co. announced a deal to combine with Unilever Plc.'s Select Foods business, paying $15.7 bn in cash and issuing equity worth $29.1 bn. The transaction values Unilever Foods at about $44.8 bn and is slated to close by mid‑2027 pending approvals.
British Business Bank Hits £200m First Close in First External Capital Raise
The British Business Bank secured a £200 million (approximately $256 million) first close in its inaugural external capital raise. This marks the bank’s first time tapping private‑sector investors beyond government funding. The capital will be deployed to expand SME lending, support green...
EnerVenue Raises $300 Million to Commercialize Lithium‑free Nickel‑hydrogen Storage
EnerVenue announced a $300 million Series B+ financing round and the appointment of Henning Rath as CEO. The capital will fund large‑scale manufacturing of its lithium‑free nickel‑hydrogen batteries and the launch of a regional headquarters in Hong Kong, positioning the company...
What the $65B Unilever–McCormick Deal Means—And Why Investors Are Wary
Unilever is merging its food division with McCormick & Company in a $65 billion Reverse Morris Trust that should close around mid‑2027. The British consumer‑goods group will receive $15.7 billion in cash and retain a majority economic stake in the combined entity,...
Crypto Stocks Are Getting Smashed. Here’s Why That’s a Gift.
CoinShares, a Jersey‑based crypto asset manager that has been profitable every year since 2014, debuted on the NASDAQ through a SPAC merger with Vine Hill Capital. The listing adds a successful, fee‑based crypto business to the pool of publicly traded...
OpenAI Secures $122 Billion Funding, Valuation Hits $852 Billion
OpenAI closed a $122 billion financing round anchored by Amazon, Nvidia and SoftBank, lifting its post‑money valuation to $852 billion. The deal adds $3 billion from retail investors and expands a $4.7 billion revolving credit facility, fueling the company’s push for more chips, data...
InsideArbitrage Event Driven Monitor – April 1, 2026
Eli Lilly announced a $6.3 billion cash‑plus‑contingent‑value‑right acquisition of Centessa Pharmaceuticals, paying a 37.8% premium, while Biogen launched a $5.6 billion tender offer for Apellis at a 140% premium. Fidelity BancShares agreed to buy Affinity Bancshares for $142.8 million, offering a 17.3% premium, and...
Carlyle Agrees Majority Investment in MAI Capital at $2.8bn-plus Valuation
Carlyle has agreed to a majority investment in MAI Capital, valuing the private‑credit manager at more than $2.8 billion. The deal underscores Carlyle’s push into high‑yield lending platforms as private‑credit assets surge. At the same time, peers such as Blue Owl,...
Arctic Bioscience - New Long-Term Financing
Arctic Bioscience announced a new NOK 15 million (≈$1.65 million) bank loan, adding to an NOK 8 million (≈$0.88 million) credit‑facility increase from December 2025. The combined financing lifts the company’s available liquidity by roughly NOK 23 million (≈$2.5 million). Guarantees from Innovation Norway (NOK 6 million) and shareholders (NOK 18 million) back...
Blackstone Explores $500m IPO for AGS Health in India
Blackstone is in early talks to launch a Mumbai‑based IPO for its AGS Health unit, targeting up to $500 million in proceeds. The offering would combine primary shares and secondary sales, with a valuation goal of roughly $3 billion. AGS Health, founded...
Lilly Moves Deeper Into Sleep Medicine with up to $7.8 Billion Centessa Deal
Eli Lilly announced a definitive agreement to acquire UK‑based Centessa Pharmaceuticals for up to $7.8 billion, paying $38 per share in cash and up to $9 per share in contingent milestones. The acquisition gives Lilly control of Centessa’s orexin‑receptor‑2 agonist pipeline,...
Rediff Files Confidential IPO Papers; Targets Rs 600–800 Cr Fundraise
Legacy internet pioneer Rediff.com India Limited has filed confidential draft papers with SEBI to raise between Rs 600 crore and Rs 800 crore (approximately $72‑96 million) in an IPO. The filing uses India’s confidential pre‑filing route, allowing the company to postpone disclosure of valuation and...
New Hampshire Issues Bitcoin-Backed Municipal Bond with Ba2 Rating: Moody's
New Hampshire became the first U.S. municipality to issue a Bitcoin‑backed municipal bond, receiving a Ba2 rating from Moody’s on April 1, 2026. The bond is the inaugural public‑finance instrument backed by cryptocurrency assets and is classified as upper‑medium‑grade, reflecting moderate credit...
DNeX to Issue RM3bil Sukuk for Growth, Capex
DNeX (Dagang NeXchange Bhd) announced a sukuk programme worth up to RM3 billion (approximately $630 million) to fund working capital, investments and capital expenditure. The programme, structured under the Wakalah Bi Al‑Istithmar principle, will issue both senior medium‑term notes and subordinated perpetual notes, with...
Apellis Pharmaceuticals (APLS) Hits 2-Year High on 140% Upside From Biogen Merger
Apellis Pharmaceuticals surged to a two‑year high after announcing a definitive agreement for Biogen to acquire the company at $41 per share, representing a 140% premium to the pre‑deal price. The transaction values Apellis at roughly $5.6 billion and includes an...
China’s Coffee Market Splits in Two as Luckin Moves Upmarket and Mixue Digs Deeper
Centurium Capital is acquiring Blue Bottle’s global retail stores for under $400 million, giving Luckin Coffee a premium brand to complement its low‑price model. Mixue Bingcheng is piloting freshly ground coffee in select outlets, installing $4,800 automatic machines to broaden its...
Will Powerica IPO See Listing Gains Amid US-Iran De-Escalation Hopes? Here’s What GMP Suggests
Powerica, a power‑solutions provider, is set to list on the BSE and NSE on April 2 after raising roughly $40 million from anchor investors and a total IPO size of $120 million. The issue, priced at ₹163‑₹172 per share (about $2.00‑$2.07), saw moderate...
US IPO Prospects in Limbo as War Dents Optimism Ahead of SpaceX
US IPO market faces headwinds as the Iran conflict and AI concerns dampen investor confidence. Banks remain optimistic that a potential SpaceX listing, targeting up to $75 billion, could dominate the year’s deal flow. Early 2026 Q1 saw the strongest IPO...
Delaware Law: M&A Checklist
Morris Nichols has released the 2026 edition of its 192‑page “Mergers & Acquisitions: A Delaware Checklist,” available for free download. The guide compiles the most critical Delaware court decisions on fiduciary duties, poison pills, deal protections, appraisal rights, preferred stock...
India Kept Out of Unilever's Global Food Deal
Unilever will leave its India operations out of the $44.8 billion merger with McCormick that creates a $20 billion‑revenue foods powerhouse. The Indian foods unit, which contributes roughly $1.8 billion in annual sales (about 22% of Hindustan Unilever’s total), will remain with the...
Remote Teams Can Depress Startup Acquisition Valuations
One impact of remote or partially remote teams - lower purchase price if startup goes for a smaller exit / M&A (or in some cases acquisition doesnt happen at all) Reason: fewer buyers want fully remote teams, or teams w key...
Founder Keeps 49% of $1B Exit via Smart Build, Funding
Julian Hearn just sold Huel to Danone for €1bn. he walked away with £420m personally. that is 49% of the exit. most DTC founders who raise that much end up with 15%. two things made the difference: how he built the business, and...
Rebellions Secures $400 M Funding, Valued at $2.34 B Ahead of IPO
Rebellions, the South Korean AI‑inference chip maker, closed a $400 million financing round that lifts its valuation to $2.34 billion. Led by Mirae Asset and the Korea National Growth Fund, the capital will fund U.S. expansion, new AI infrastructure products and preparation...
Cruz, Ruddy, Gomez Slam $6.7B Nexstar‑Tegna Merger
And @tedcruz & @ChrisRuddyNMX & @AGomezFCC have a problem with the @NXSTMediaGroup - @TEGNA merger at $6.7 billion. #pathetic
Whoop Secures $575 M Series G at $10.1 B Valuation, Accelerating Corporate Wellness Push
Whoop closed a $575 million Series G financing that lifts its valuation to $10.1 billion. The round, led by Collaborative Fund and backed by sovereign wealth funds, health institutions and star athletes, will fund a 600‑person hiring spree and overseas expansion, underscoring rising...
Eli Lilly to Acquire Centessa in $7.8 B Deal, Stock Jumps 45%
Eli Lilly agreed to buy Centessa Pharmaceuticals for up to $7.8 billion, paying $38 per share in cash plus a contingent value right worth up to $9 per share. The announcement lifted Centessa’s Nasdaq price 45% to a 52‑week high, underscoring...
OpenAI's $122B Funding Lasts only 18 Months
JUST IN: OpenAI's $122,000,000,000.00 raise will cover operations for just 18 months before they need more funding.